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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W.- LITBLL.

TRUss BRIDGE.

No. 265,331. Patented oct. s, 1882.

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W. LITELL.

TRUSS BRIDGE.

No. 265,331. Patented Oct. 3. 1882.

UNtTE rares l IVILLIAM LITELL, OF BOISE CITY, IDAHO TERRITORY.

TRUSS-BRIDGE'..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,331, dated October 3, 1882.

Application filed February 6, 18853. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM LITELL, of Boise City, county ot' Ada, Idaho Territory, have invented a Truss-Bridge; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to that class of bridges commonly known as truss-bridges, and more particularly to that sub-class called lattice truss bridges 5 and it consists in certain combinations and arrangement ot' devices, as hereinatter fully described and specically claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of my bridge. Fig. 2 is a transverse section. Fig. 3 is a detail of construction.

Let A represent the corner-posts, consisting each of several suitablepieces or strips, between which the ends of the horizontal chords B t and are bolted or spiked securely therein. These chords likewise consist of several strips; and I have here shown a series ot' five on each side, inclusive of the top and bottom chords. Upon the bottom chords are laid transversely the joists or sleepers O. These extend beyond the chords on each side, and are notched, as shown, to tit upon and embrace said chords with their notches. By thus framing them in upon the chords they tend to resist lateral pressure and keep said chords from spreading. In connection with these sleepers, and to further assist in resisting lateral strain, I lay the tloor or roadway D in two layers ot' plank, the lirst layer lying` upon the sleepers diagonally and 'the second lying diagonally upon the first. Spikes d are driven through both layers into the sleepers wherever the planks-cross them, so that each plank is spiked to asleeper wherever it crosses it. The roadway laid and spiked in this manner assists the sleepers in holding the lower chords stiff and firm, and in resisting lateral strain.

E E are vertical braces. These pass down from top to bottom between the strips of all the horizontal chords B and are spiked thereto. They consist of two strips having a space between them, through which the vertical iron brace-rods F F pass. The custom heretofore has been when such rods were used to bore holes through the chords, through which to pass them, but this weakens the chords, and

is objectionable. I have therefoi e constructed the braces E E as shown,through which I pass the rods. They serve as guides and supports for said rods and allow them to be carried down beside the chords rather than through holes in them. Alternating with these double vertical braces I put the single vertical braces Gr.

Under the bottom ofthe bridge transversely I place girders H H. These fit their ends under the bottom chords and receive the ends ot the rods F, which pass down through them and are bolted therein. Similar girders, H', I place upon the top chords, and in these are bolted the upper ends of the rods F. These rods are thus secured and serve the purpose of tie-bolts, firmly bindingthe bottom and top together and resisting the verticallstrain. The girders H H further assist in binding the sides together and render them firm and rigid.

Under the bridge, between the sleepers and the girders, I secure diagonal braces h, and on top ot' the bridge similar ones, L, both contributing to the general strength.

J J represent braces upon the sides of' the structure, the particular arrangement of which herein gives the greatest possible strength. These extend diagonally the whole extent from top to bottom, being bolted to the top and bot.- tom chords and spiked to the intervening ones.

.On account of being' placed diagonally and stretching the whole distance from top to bottom, they are necessarily arranged as shown, those upon one side ot the central diagonal converging one Way-tothe top, for instanceand those upon the other side converging to the bottom. In this manner they are as evenly distributed over the sides as possible. It will be seen that there are several series of these braces-one set upon the outer surface ot' the horizontal chords, another upon theinner surface, and others passing between the separated strips comprising the chords. In the arrangement ot' these series I may place the outer ones inclining in a certain direction, and the next series inclining oppositely, and so on alternately or I may arrange them in parallel pairs. This gives to the bridge the strength of the lattice-truss, and because ot' the construction here shown it is rendered very firm and strong.

In order to make the bolts or spikes firm ICO' and solid wherever they would pass through the separated strips ot' the chords, I place blocks between them, and may, for the sake of greater solidit-y, place other blocks between these strips and extending between the verti cal braces E and G.

The material of the bridge may be either wood or iron, and its dimensions suited to the necessity. The number ot' horizontal chords may be increased; also, the number of diago nal braces. l do not confine myself to the number here shown. The lateral strain upon the bridge is resisted by the bracing and girding upon the top and bottom, the arrangement ot' the sleepers upon the bottom chords, and the double diagonal roadway laid upon and spiked to the sleepers, as shown. The vertical strain is overcome by the horizontalchords, vertical braces, and tie bolts or rods, and the lattice-work or series of diagonal braces J J upon the sides.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

1. ln a truss-bridge, the posts A, composed of separated strips, and the series ot' horizontal chords B, composed likewise of separated strips fitting between the strips ot' said posts and spiked or bolted therein, in combination with the vertical braces E E, composed of two separated strips secured to the horizontal chords B, the rods or tie-bolts F, passing,r between these braces and extending' past the chords B, above and below, and the transverse girders 1I H', under the bottom and upon the top chords, and in which said tie-bolts are bolted, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

2. In a truss-bridge, the posts A, composed ot' separated strips, and the series of horizontal chords B, also composed of separated strips titting between the strips of posts A and secured therein, in combination with the series of diagonal lattice-braces J J, said braces being` secured to and through the horizontal chords, as shown, and ext-ending the whole distance from the top to the bottom chords, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

3. A truss-bridge consisting ofthe posts A, series ot' horizontal chords B, sleepers orjoists C, framed into the bottom chords, as shown, roadway I), girders H H', vertical braces E G, tie-bolts F, and the series ot' diagonal latticebraces J J, arranged and secured together substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof l hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM LITELL.

\Vitnesses:

Titoli/ras DJUAHALON, J EREMIAH BRUMLEIGK. 

